"You're Not Alone" with Dr. Gisette Uthoff

​​In this episode of The BOLO Podcast, we spoke with Dr. Gisette Uthoff. Gisette has been a psychologist for 10 years and is sharing her expertise on learning how to manage and cope with traumatic incidents, PTSD, EMDR, and the stresses of being a first responder.

Gisette worked the Los Angeles International Airport active shooter incident and the terrorist attack in San Bernardino, California.

Mike also interviewed Stephanie Samuels of CopLine, which is a hotline providing officers a safe place to seek help anonymously, when they are experiencing personal psychological or emotional crisis.

Mike tells us about his river trip injury, and you'll need to be the judge; Was he being a hero or just "cray"?

Listen Now...

Show Take-Aways

Summary of segment with Gisette Uthoff and the crew:

San Francisco mandates a "no days off" policy for law enforcement, due to riots.

6 officers attacked and shot last week.

Having couples sign up together to do challenge groups is a great way to have the support at home and motivate each other on your fitness journey.

Coach Ron with Team Fit For Duty walks you through academy prep and career development.

Red flags of suicide are divorce, loss of a child, not taking proper precautions with clearing a house, being reckless.

When someone commits or attempts suicide, the pain has become so much for them that it seems that their only option is death.

Since cops tend to suppress emotion, the depression can take a toll on your body as a release.

Gallows Humor is humor about very unpleasant, serious, or painful circumstances.

People are usually convinced to seek therapy after peer supporter or family pressure.

People who are suicidal believe that their feelings are going to scare whoever they are expressing to.

If you are in law enforcement seek a therapist who deals with law enforcement and has experience.

Don't go through your insurance, you have more privacy if you seek out help on your own.

EMDR is eye movement desensitization reprocessing and is bilateral stimulation.

By using EMDR it allows your stored trauma to process and your body can store it wherever it needs to and the trauma is over.

If you're avoiding something, like a place where an incident happened, the incident needs to be dealt with.

Not being able to eat, sleep, anxiety and avoiding places are signs of PTSD.

Gisette has the ability to compartmentalise, which allows her to be better suited to work with law enforcement.

*Team Fit For Duty has a new 8 week challenge group with online trainer, Kristen, starting October 2. Spots are filling up quickly, so sign up soon!!!

About CopLine...

Summary of interview with Stephanie Samuels from CopLine:

CopLine is a national hotline that is manned by retired trained officers who have done the job themselves and have been trained in the skills of active listening. Dealing with active officers, retired officers and family members of law enforcement.

CopLine deals with multiple psycho stressors and to be a safe place for officers to vent.

Cops are afraid that their departments are going to be notified and risk their careers by venting.

CopLine is a confidential hotline, does not trace calls and is a non-rescue line.

Therapists and consultants are well vetted to be able to service law enforcement.

Run for the Call is a 5k to honor officers all over the country that are working and not with their families. They honor them and all of those who have worn the badge with respect and dignity by starting the New year healthy, sober, and safe.

CopLine is expanding and needs to recruit retired officers to be able to serve the demand.

CopLine is not necessarily a suicide hotline, but deals with incidents such as child related incidents, officer involved shootings and deaths.